Information AboutAtharvaveda |
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The Atharvaveda ( compound of '' Atharvan '', a type of priest, and '' Veda '' meaning "knowledge") is a sacred text of Hinduism , and one of the four Veda s, often called the "fourth Veda". According to tradition, the Atharvaveda was mainly composed by two groups of Rishi s known as the Bhrigus and the Angiras as. Additionally, traditions ascribes parts to other Rishis , such as Kaushika , Vasishtha and Kashyapa . There are two surviving recensions ( Shakha s), known as ('''AVS''') and ('''AVP'''). The fixation of the samhita texts of these recensions likely dates to roughly 600 BCE (the "Mantra" period of Vedic Sanskrit , and the following codification in Vedic shakhas). STATUS The Atharvaveda, while undoubtedly belonging to the core Vedic corpus, in some ways represents an independent parallel tradition to that of the Rigveda and Yajurveda . The Jain a and Buddha texts are considerably more hostile to the AV (they call it or Veda) than they are to the other Hindu texts. They even call it a non- Arya n Veda concocted by for human sacrifices. The Hindu texts too have taken a less than charitable view and have on occasions omitted the reference to the " Atharvan " text in the context of Vedic literature, though some attribute this to the fact that the Atharvaveda was a later addition chronologically. The Atharvan (appendices) themselves state that specific priests of the and schools should be avoided. It is even stated that women associated with may suffer from abortions. RECENSIONS The '''' (attributed to Shaunaka ) lists nine Shakha s or Schools of the Atharvaveda: # # # # # # # # # Of these, only the (AVS) and the (AVP) recensions have survived. The core text is considered earlier than the , but both also contain later additions and corruptions. In places where the and the agree, it is likely the original version. Often, the two recensions in corresponding hymns have a different verse order, or either has additional verses missing from the other. Additionally, from the Vishnu Purana and Vayu Purana Purana s (older Hindu texts on the gods, goddesses and their histories) it may be possible to glean a few more ancient schools that were not listed in the ''''. These are: At least some of these may have evolved into the other schools mentioned in the list. , and are the five '' Kalpa '' texts adduced to the tradition and not separate schools of their own. From the Puranic text we may propose the following evolutionary history of the AV recensions: |
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